Re: Recommend scope
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SANDRAT</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ATH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"Must have's":
-variable power, 3-5 on the low end
-side focus
-target knobs
-decent eye relief (more than .308 recoil anticipated)
-30mm tube preferred but not an absolute
"Nice-to-have's":
-illuminate reticle (really not important)
I don't want to put too much restriction on price, let's say it would be nice to get $500-$700 but I could go as high as $1000.
Right now I've looking between the Bushnell Tactical or one of the Leupolds. I have a Nikon Tactical that is great except that the eye relief is too short. </div></div>
I hate to point this out,but if the recoil is enough on what you are shooting to worry about eye-relief,have you considered investing in a good brake? Just a thought </div></div>
A couple barrels to be used on this gun (Savage), one of which is a muzzleloader with sabots so the brake is not an option. I hate them anyways, just personal preference.
Regarding "buying the best" there is the value story here too. My life does not depend on this gun and I've put $500-$1000 scopes through plenty of hard hunting and never been let down. The $200 Barska I'm waiting on to crap out so I have an excuse to replace it now that I can afford to finally gave me a hiccup this year but even that has been a decent "value".
For my purposes, there is very little value delivered by a scope that is much more than a grand brand new. My big game rifle wears a Nikon Tactical I got used on here for $900 and it has been impeccable. My trainer wears a Nikon Buckmaster I got for around $300 I think and even with dialing it a lot it has been flawless. Need I spend 4-5X as much as that?? Not me.
I thank everyone who contributed suggestions. In the end it came down to a couple of the Sightrons, the Nikon Monarch, a used Leupold Mark 4, or the Bushnell Tactical. I ended up going with the Bushness as a) the Nikon required swapping turrets, b) I don't think so highly of Leupold anymore, and c) this is a hunting gun where close range is likely sometimes and it's hard to beat the magnification range of the 6500 Series.